Just came back from a long talk with Kenny and Weiyen. It reminds me that there are great conversations to be had anywhere in hall, and the serendipity is just amazing :) Perhaps it's the sense of home in our warm abode here that endear us to our friends and neighbours so. Well, since i'll be staying in budget student hostels in both the U.S and Germany, i'll be sure to experience this feeling with different people who have different stories to tell :)
Anyway, I feel really relieved that my overseas trip issues are settled. It was a pretty tough exam season, what with running all around getting my jabs done, applying for student discount cards, preparing documents and whatnot... and, Oh Gott, the waiting. That was the worst part of all, stressing over whether my acceptance package, german insurance requirements will arrive in time for my visa application (and my pre-booked flight!)
I'm just glad to have everything fall in place, and not a moment too soon, either. Will be flying off next thursday on the 30th, i hope everything goes smoothly ~ Before that, i'll be initiating myself to Moolah @ the SG office these few days. Definitely raring to go :)
Bis bald, Singapur!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Acceptance from TUM!
Für Ihr Studium an der Technischen Universität München wünschen wir Ihnen
viel Erfolg!
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr Welcome Office
:)
Friday, December 10, 2010
Stats
Interesting stats from blogspot's new Stats function!
Over the past month...
-227 views came from my facebook profile.
-16 views came from a Russian property website. I assume real estate must be big in Sebastiancity?
-Top Countries that my readers are from:
Singapore, U.S., Malaysia, and.... Russia. (btw if you're russian, you may want to stop searching for your dream house here.)
-Strange O.S./ Browsers used by readers:
4 Iphone views, 1 Netscape (thought it was extinct?), 1 Java (Java has a browser?)
-Top stories read:
Hall XI FOC 2010: A Happy Ending
Reflection
Fishin' in Sibu
Haha... really fun to look at the stats. Thanks, Google/Blogspot!
Over the past month...
-227 views came from my facebook profile.
-16 views came from a Russian property website. I assume real estate must be big in Sebastiancity?
-Top Countries that my readers are from:
Singapore, U.S., Malaysia, and.... Russia. (btw if you're russian, you may want to stop searching for your dream house here.)
-Strange O.S./ Browsers used by readers:
4 Iphone views, 1 Netscape (thought it was extinct?), 1 Java (Java has a browser?)
-Top stories read:
Hall XI FOC 2010: A Happy Ending
Reflection
Fishin' in Sibu
Haha... really fun to look at the stats. Thanks, Google/Blogspot!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Updating Life
Been wanting to blog for the longest time! A multitude of myriad things have passed by, and i'm just dying to rave abt them.
First off: getting an internship @ Project Moolah, Silicon Valley U.S. :) It's going to be tons and tons of fun over there, every single day at work! I was so afraid that i'd end up doing a mundane office-job internship in SG again... it just felt like i'd never be able to explore what i truly wanted to do. But I'd bet that just getting overseas will really throw me out of my comfort zone and force me to search for directions in life again :)
What i'd be doing there isn't kinda fixed, but it mostly revolves around customer development (on e ground with the kids and parents!), as well as some fascinatin projects here and there. I cannot begin to describe how much more interesting this is compared to a typical 'high-flying' internship in a bank or MNC... which will be mostly abt churning out metrics, hanging out at pubs, and dabbling in things full-timers do. Still pretty interesting, but i'll pass this second time round, for the wild unknown world of the Valley!
Anyway, probably flying at the start of the year :) Looking forward to visit some friends like Alvin, Gaoshan, Zhiyang along the way.
Next up, i did some cool photoshoots for the school! Reminds me of the JCRC photoshoot a couple of years back.. but this time i wasn't in the limelight! Ended up as those in the 'background' picture..haha. It was pretty fun tho, we even did some external shoot and went all the way to SRC! Anyway i'm going for another one tomo, will see what this one is like.
And over the past weekend, i mourned for the passing away of my great-grandmother, aged 97. The wake was probably the most extensive i'll ever see, with me among the 170+ descendants that she had, and the high-budget stuff that went on. A whopping 6 or 7 buses were catered to bring us to Choa Chu Kang.
It's amazing how one life can lead to so many. And yet i'd think it was never her intention to pass her genes down, as a sort of immortality. But among all these lives she'd impacted so deeply, how many have actually spent a thought or two thinking about filial piety, familial ties to her? It seems as though where the heart cannot pay back, the wallet serves just as well. And hence the origin of ceremonial burial, lavish, elaborate and ultimately, redeeming for the living. As below, so above; as above, so below.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477238146704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477250986704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477261261704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477295916704&ref=mf
I scripted it from an idea out of the blue in twenty minutes :) Plus directed the whole thing in an hour with all the born actor guys, and Zhi jie did the great video editing. It got the entire class laughing, including the prof. I'm definitely proud that we satisfied the entire audience, instead of just presenting boring, factual stuff that looked aimed at the prof only! (counts for 50% of the grps.. sad).
It's already the third year and i'm pretty much synced in with what the profs want from us, and what they want us to pick up from the course. That's why i took the initiative to lead two project groups this semester (stepping down from CCAs helped too), and i'm pretty comfortable with the results for both! I maintained a leisurely pace throughout, and learned to show more empathy and understanding, something i had as a terrible fault while being FOC Chair.
Come to think of it, despite my FOC journey being much less intensive than JCRC in year one, it taught me so much more than i ever learned as a block manager. I'd say Year one was about losing the naivety about people and things, Year two was understanding my strengths and weaknesses, and Year three was... well, being in the know and getting comfortable :)
I truly felt at ease this entire semester, knowing when to "let go" and when to "reel it in". (Anglers' Club taught me new lingo eh, haha) I just felt more acutely aware of the situation, the paths of action open to me, and their consequences. There was little doubt in my mind as to what i needed to do, and when. All i needed was a desire, and the discipline and will to fulfill it :p but these're my biggest weaknesses after all.
In short, Life has never felt more carefree and yet empowered in the comfort zone i've built over these past years ...
...and that's why i have to get outta here :)
First off: getting an internship @ Project Moolah, Silicon Valley U.S. :) It's going to be tons and tons of fun over there, every single day at work! I was so afraid that i'd end up doing a mundane office-job internship in SG again... it just felt like i'd never be able to explore what i truly wanted to do. But I'd bet that just getting overseas will really throw me out of my comfort zone and force me to search for directions in life again :)
What i'd be doing there isn't kinda fixed, but it mostly revolves around customer development (on e ground with the kids and parents!), as well as some fascinatin projects here and there. I cannot begin to describe how much more interesting this is compared to a typical 'high-flying' internship in a bank or MNC... which will be mostly abt churning out metrics, hanging out at pubs, and dabbling in things full-timers do. Still pretty interesting, but i'll pass this second time round, for the wild unknown world of the Valley!
Anyway, probably flying at the start of the year :) Looking forward to visit some friends like Alvin, Gaoshan, Zhiyang along the way.
Next up, i did some cool photoshoots for the school! Reminds me of the JCRC photoshoot a couple of years back.. but this time i wasn't in the limelight! Ended up as those in the 'background' picture..haha. It was pretty fun tho, we even did some external shoot and went all the way to SRC! Anyway i'm going for another one tomo, will see what this one is like.
And over the past weekend, i mourned for the passing away of my great-grandmother, aged 97. The wake was probably the most extensive i'll ever see, with me among the 170+ descendants that she had, and the high-budget stuff that went on. A whopping 6 or 7 buses were catered to bring us to Choa Chu Kang.
It's amazing how one life can lead to so many. And yet i'd think it was never her intention to pass her genes down, as a sort of immortality. But among all these lives she'd impacted so deeply, how many have actually spent a thought or two thinking about filial piety, familial ties to her? It seems as though where the heart cannot pay back, the wallet serves just as well. And hence the origin of ceremonial burial, lavish, elaborate and ultimately, redeeming for the living. As below, so above; as above, so below.
Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius, et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius.It wasn't of course this moody at... my most fun project presentation till date, BC214!! Check out the videos @ facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477238146704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477250986704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477261261704&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=477295916704&ref=mf
I scripted it from an idea out of the blue in twenty minutes :) Plus directed the whole thing in an hour with all the born actor guys, and Zhi jie did the great video editing. It got the entire class laughing, including the prof. I'm definitely proud that we satisfied the entire audience, instead of just presenting boring, factual stuff that looked aimed at the prof only! (counts for 50% of the grps.. sad).
It's already the third year and i'm pretty much synced in with what the profs want from us, and what they want us to pick up from the course. That's why i took the initiative to lead two project groups this semester (stepping down from CCAs helped too), and i'm pretty comfortable with the results for both! I maintained a leisurely pace throughout, and learned to show more empathy and understanding, something i had as a terrible fault while being FOC Chair.
Come to think of it, despite my FOC journey being much less intensive than JCRC in year one, it taught me so much more than i ever learned as a block manager. I'd say Year one was about losing the naivety about people and things, Year two was understanding my strengths and weaknesses, and Year three was... well, being in the know and getting comfortable :)
I truly felt at ease this entire semester, knowing when to "let go" and when to "reel it in". (Anglers' Club taught me new lingo eh, haha) I just felt more acutely aware of the situation, the paths of action open to me, and their consequences. There was little doubt in my mind as to what i needed to do, and when. All i needed was a desire, and the discipline and will to fulfill it :p but these're my biggest weaknesses after all.
In short, Life has never felt more carefree and yet empowered in the comfort zone i've built over these past years ...
...and that's why i have to get outta here :)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Infocomm Industry Forum
I'm usually not the kind of person who goes around attending seminars and forums, but these two days I've had them back to back!
The first was the Infocomm Industry Forum 2010. Informative, inspiring, and led by high-powered executives and entrepreneurs full of vibe! They presented on the hottest ICT trends, on cloud computing, analytics, mobile techs... all poised to evolve the way we do business, and even the way we live.
I especially liked the last two presentations, about Globe Forum, an ideas and capital marketplace for environmental enterprise, and Grow VC, that promotes the system of communal investment, i.e. growing a VC from the ground up. I grabbed the opportunity after the forum to talk to Mr Jouko, a long-time entrepreneur, investor and the founder of Grow VC. It was inspiring to see someone who believes in a vision and great ideas, especially at his level of multi-million startups!
At the same time, I also talked to Mr Johan of Globe Forum, and.. it was not so inspiring. I asked about his personal motivation (besides being a hero to his daughter!), but instead of hearing about the importance of environmentalism, he exhorted about how it was a truly profitable idea, by taking a stake in multiple startups. Sounds like a VC masked up by lofty ideals.
Of course firms must be profitable. But in which sense? Money? Sure, money is a universal medium of value. But what if this value is not recognized in the monetary sense? Just as housewives and mothers receive no banker's pay, so do many not-for-profits toil away at solving the needs and problems that society falls short in today. How about giving them a pat on the back and some healthy financing, eh?
I'm sure there are so many worthy startups out there that can earn huge profits. With minimal costs they can maximize their revenue: millions worth of peace, billions in conserving the environment for the future, and trillions of happiness for many, many people in the world. Do we really have to leave it to people who get realllllyyyy rich before they can give away half their fortunes to charity and NPOs? (Nice initiative btw, Bill!)
Anyway, I'll been contacting Mr Jouko soon, and hopefully get to engage him on these issues.
The first was the Infocomm Industry Forum 2010. Informative, inspiring, and led by high-powered executives and entrepreneurs full of vibe! They presented on the hottest ICT trends, on cloud computing, analytics, mobile techs... all poised to evolve the way we do business, and even the way we live.
I especially liked the last two presentations, about Globe Forum, an ideas and capital marketplace for environmental enterprise, and Grow VC, that promotes the system of communal investment, i.e. growing a VC from the ground up. I grabbed the opportunity after the forum to talk to Mr Jouko, a long-time entrepreneur, investor and the founder of Grow VC. It was inspiring to see someone who believes in a vision and great ideas, especially at his level of multi-million startups!
At the same time, I also talked to Mr Johan of Globe Forum, and.. it was not so inspiring. I asked about his personal motivation (besides being a hero to his daughter!), but instead of hearing about the importance of environmentalism, he exhorted about how it was a truly profitable idea, by taking a stake in multiple startups. Sounds like a VC masked up by lofty ideals.
Of course firms must be profitable. But in which sense? Money? Sure, money is a universal medium of value. But what if this value is not recognized in the monetary sense? Just as housewives and mothers receive no banker's pay, so do many not-for-profits toil away at solving the needs and problems that society falls short in today. How about giving them a pat on the back and some healthy financing, eh?
I'm sure there are so many worthy startups out there that can earn huge profits. With minimal costs they can maximize their revenue: millions worth of peace, billions in conserving the environment for the future, and trillions of happiness for many, many people in the world. Do we really have to leave it to people who get realllllyyyy rich before they can give away half their fortunes to charity and NPOs? (Nice initiative btw, Bill!)
Anyway, I'll been contacting Mr Jouko soon, and hopefully get to engage him on these issues.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Fishin' in Sibu
Back from the Kelong fishing trip in Sibu, Malaysia. And lovin' it. :)
I haven't felt so refreshed for a long time... Sitting on a stool, rod in hand, hook in the waters, the vast expanse of blue skies and white clouds immersing me in peace and serenity. The horizons drew me in, and the hours passed like minutes. Here was a great getaway, replete with a overflowing atmosphere of calm that enabled us to talk and share freely and have fun. These were the halcyon days...
It's not the fishing, but the company that matters. I feared at first that i wouldn't be able to make friends there, but it was just so easy to get to meet and know so many new people whom i've never seen before!
There were the 'villagers' and Exco who worked hard to make the event a success... Jame, Xinyi, Sophia, Jason, Wei Qiang, etc. There were the 'mahjong khaki' that i played with, including Felix, Huang Hui and Wei Kang from German class :) There were the random peeps i've met, either queuing for the toilet, helping me with my line, or just plain chatting as we fished, like Jia Long. And of course, the girls whom i'd spent most time with, fishing, playing cards and had meals with... Xinru, GC, Carol and Yeexian! It feels refreshing to know more people for a change, and though it were just two days and a night, i had open, interesting conversations with a lot of different personalities.
We fished as much as we liked, with squid as bait, and easily caught a myriad of fishes. From a white one that made kissing sounds as it spat water at us, to a colorful variety that had spiny fins along its back. At first it was fun putting them in the pail, like a record-keeping book; but later when they started suffocating, we could only release them back to the sea. And make no mistake, fishing is cruel, really cruel! I regret the times i had to pull out my hook from the fish's eyes or mouth, leaving them bleeding! In the end, i stopped fishing the second day.
We ate as much as we could, too. There was good seafood, and i enjoyed the restaurant-style yet communal meals. The locals rang the bell to start the meal, and we streamed in like schoolchildren to get our ricebowls and sit at random tables, each with full five courses set out tantalizingly. There was even a supper BBQ; you just had to feel satiated the whole day and night.
I liked to wander around and talk to people. The kelong was an open-concept, mammoth wooden platform with rod holders all around the perimeter. In the day we shuffled around like rabbits, looking for new spots to hopefully dig out something. At night we waited patiently for the squids at the bottom of the sea to bite, which rarely did. When we got sick of it, we played mahjong, chatted, got drunk (not me!)
It was all a good, wholesome weekend :) Hopefully next year, when i come back from Germany, i'll be able to go for it again. Hurrah for retired uni. life! It's really great to take a leisurely pace of life to things, for a change.
Life must be so full of all these new and interesting experiences, waiting for us to explore and discover :)
I haven't felt so refreshed for a long time... Sitting on a stool, rod in hand, hook in the waters, the vast expanse of blue skies and white clouds immersing me in peace and serenity. The horizons drew me in, and the hours passed like minutes. Here was a great getaway, replete with a overflowing atmosphere of calm that enabled us to talk and share freely and have fun. These were the halcyon days...
It's not the fishing, but the company that matters. I feared at first that i wouldn't be able to make friends there, but it was just so easy to get to meet and know so many new people whom i've never seen before!
There were the 'villagers' and Exco who worked hard to make the event a success... Jame, Xinyi, Sophia, Jason, Wei Qiang, etc. There were the 'mahjong khaki' that i played with, including Felix, Huang Hui and Wei Kang from German class :) There were the random peeps i've met, either queuing for the toilet, helping me with my line, or just plain chatting as we fished, like Jia Long. And of course, the girls whom i'd spent most time with, fishing, playing cards and had meals with... Xinru, GC, Carol and Yeexian! It feels refreshing to know more people for a change, and though it were just two days and a night, i had open, interesting conversations with a lot of different personalities.
Yet another big catch :p
We fished as much as we liked, with squid as bait, and easily caught a myriad of fishes. From a white one that made kissing sounds as it spat water at us, to a colorful variety that had spiny fins along its back. At first it was fun putting them in the pail, like a record-keeping book; but later when they started suffocating, we could only release them back to the sea. And make no mistake, fishing is cruel, really cruel! I regret the times i had to pull out my hook from the fish's eyes or mouth, leaving them bleeding! In the end, i stopped fishing the second day.
We ate as much as we could, too. There was good seafood, and i enjoyed the restaurant-style yet communal meals. The locals rang the bell to start the meal, and we streamed in like schoolchildren to get our ricebowls and sit at random tables, each with full five courses set out tantalizingly. There was even a supper BBQ; you just had to feel satiated the whole day and night.
I liked to wander around and talk to people. The kelong was an open-concept, mammoth wooden platform with rod holders all around the perimeter. In the day we shuffled around like rabbits, looking for new spots to hopefully dig out something. At night we waited patiently for the squids at the bottom of the sea to bite, which rarely did. When we got sick of it, we played mahjong, chatted, got drunk (not me!)
It was all a good, wholesome weekend :) Hopefully next year, when i come back from Germany, i'll be able to go for it again. Hurrah for retired uni. life! It's really great to take a leisurely pace of life to things, for a change.
Life must be so full of all these new and interesting experiences, waiting for us to explore and discover :)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Doldrums
In the doldrums now. Perhaps there's just so much uncertainty in my life now, that it gets to the point where it's terribly, miserably upsetting. I still don't know what i want to do with my life. I can't find an internship anywhere outside Singapore (though i haven't tried Kazakhstan). And, now, after stepping down from umpteen things in my past two years of hall and school, i can't find something new to be passionate about.
I did try. I joined the Anglers' Club, and it was fun going down to Pasir Ris pond and catching that monster of a fish. I'll be going to Sibu this Sat too, to a kelong floating in the sea half an hour off the Malaysian coast. Hopefully it'll be exciting enough to lift my mood.
I joined the NBS Exchange Club, but after the first event, we got caught up in some bamboozling red-tape stuff and that was that, till the next event at the end of the month. And i'm in the German Society, which has yet to notify me of anything.
To sum it up, my CCA life has been grinding to a halt now. Guess i've been so used to the hectic workload of being a leader at the top, that now that i've stepped down, to relax and retire as an ordinary member, it bores me. I am at a complete loss of what to do when i'm free. Even now, i am doing extra work on my biz. project, because it occupies me for the moment. Keeps me from thinking too much.
To top up the depressive moods, i had been watching '1 Litre of Tears' the past week. And it made me tear almost every single episode. The original story is sad enough, but the drama's addition of the love element really ups the ante far too much.
The most touching scenes were, to me, those of Aya and Haruto... it's like having an infinitely bright and beautiful scenery that you can but peek through a window. It was so deeply poignant when Aya tells him not to see her again... because she couldn't bear being reminded of the happiness that she 'could have' with him. A tragic love story that did not begin or end, but only simmered in bittersweet sorrow in each other's hearts.
I will always remember this serial for being so different from the usual riffraff. This is a serial not made for entertainment, but for inspiration. Not made to sell, but made to touch. This is a love story you'll dream about vividly at night. Perhaps just as Aya does.
I did try. I joined the Anglers' Club, and it was fun going down to Pasir Ris pond and catching that monster of a fish. I'll be going to Sibu this Sat too, to a kelong floating in the sea half an hour off the Malaysian coast. Hopefully it'll be exciting enough to lift my mood.
I joined the NBS Exchange Club, but after the first event, we got caught up in some bamboozling red-tape stuff and that was that, till the next event at the end of the month. And i'm in the German Society, which has yet to notify me of anything.
To sum it up, my CCA life has been grinding to a halt now. Guess i've been so used to the hectic workload of being a leader at the top, that now that i've stepped down, to relax and retire as an ordinary member, it bores me. I am at a complete loss of what to do when i'm free. Even now, i am doing extra work on my biz. project, because it occupies me for the moment. Keeps me from thinking too much.
To top up the depressive moods, i had been watching '1 Litre of Tears' the past week. And it made me tear almost every single episode. The original story is sad enough, but the drama's addition of the love element really ups the ante far too much. The most touching scenes were, to me, those of Aya and Haruto... it's like having an infinitely bright and beautiful scenery that you can but peek through a window. It was so deeply poignant when Aya tells him not to see her again... because she couldn't bear being reminded of the happiness that she 'could have' with him. A tragic love story that did not begin or end, but only simmered in bittersweet sorrow in each other's hearts.
I will always remember this serial for being so different from the usual riffraff. This is a serial not made for entertainment, but for inspiration. Not made to sell, but made to touch. This is a love story you'll dream about vividly at night. Perhaps just as Aya does.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A modicum of life and wisdom
The fourth week of school already! And here i am, still mucking about life, not getting into anything seriously. School life is hectic as usual, and the projects are just beginning. I'm midway through the book 'Herzog' by Nobel prize-winner Saul Bellow, part of my commitment to read more and play less. A very intriguing story about the life drama of a man, but not the typical digestible novel. Besides all this, i spend quite a few nights sending applications off for overseas internships... so far, no results yet.
Been hosting Mouxuan over as a squatter, and it's pretty interesting. He's a smart and lively character, and we delve into both casual and serious discussions readily. I like how he asks me to get real and aim for high-salary careers ("Boy, wake up!! What is wrong with you!"). Nah, i'm still figuring life out at my own pace. I'll keep trying to get an internship that's totally fresh and exciting!
Now that i've tried out much of the activities in hall and school, it's finally time for me to fulfill my ideal university life: to read and enrich my knowledge of various fields, to browse through the treasure troves of books in school. I want to read up on philosophy, psychology, sociology, any chim-ology out there. There won't be another chance in the future to try out the life of an academic, after all. I don't think my experience here will be complete without this 'ivory tower'-ish facet of university, haha.
Two more years to go. I should stop being anxious about things, and really learn to be at peace with myself, with others, with the big, wide world out there. Learn to see the world for what it is, and live life like it is meant to be lived.
Please let me retain this wisdom with me as i enter the struggle for life, the working world.
Been hosting Mouxuan over as a squatter, and it's pretty interesting. He's a smart and lively character, and we delve into both casual and serious discussions readily. I like how he asks me to get real and aim for high-salary careers ("Boy, wake up!! What is wrong with you!"). Nah, i'm still figuring life out at my own pace. I'll keep trying to get an internship that's totally fresh and exciting!
Now that i've tried out much of the activities in hall and school, it's finally time for me to fulfill my ideal university life: to read and enrich my knowledge of various fields, to browse through the treasure troves of books in school. I want to read up on philosophy, psychology, sociology, any chim-ology out there. There won't be another chance in the future to try out the life of an academic, after all. I don't think my experience here will be complete without this 'ivory tower'-ish facet of university, haha.
Two more years to go. I should stop being anxious about things, and really learn to be at peace with myself, with others, with the big, wide world out there. Learn to see the world for what it is, and live life like it is meant to be lived.
Please let me retain this wisdom with me as i enter the struggle for life, the working world.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Fifty-Four, 2010
Mmm... i like the feeling of being back in 54, hall eleven :)
So it's the third time already. Makes me feel kinda old when i think about it. I've had my fair share of wonderful moments here. Year one was getting to know the original '54 gang', doing all kinds of block activities and working really hard to get things going. They called me boss all the time then, haha. Year two was about having a havoc time with WC, Alvin and JH, feeling free to do what we wanted to do, as sophomores.
Yep, those were the good ol' days. Still, it feels pretty comfortable now in a single room. And just next to me are Lihhern, Luojun and William :) Time to get doorknocking soon to meet the other neighbours though! Good way to prep up for exchange next sem.
Still undecided on either Sweden or Germany. On one hand, the Swedish unis have this huge student-run organizations called "Nations", which are like a super-happening, all-encompassing version of hall JCRC or school committees. They organize everything from restaurants, cafes, pubs to libraries, community events, festivals! My buddy Erik from Uppsala tells me that his best friend is the chairperson of a Nation, which entails taking one full year off from studies, to manage it full-time. Now THAT is a heavy commitment!
On the other hand, Germany is cheaper to live in. And i haven't really looked at their student life there, which undoubtedly wouldn't lose out to the Swedish unis. But anyway, as long as it's Europe, i'm sure it'll be quite happening either ways :)
.. Damn it's lonely in a single-room haha. Miss the times with Alvin.
So it's the third time already. Makes me feel kinda old when i think about it. I've had my fair share of wonderful moments here. Year one was getting to know the original '54 gang', doing all kinds of block activities and working really hard to get things going. They called me boss all the time then, haha. Year two was about having a havoc time with WC, Alvin and JH, feeling free to do what we wanted to do, as sophomores.
Yep, those were the good ol' days. Still, it feels pretty comfortable now in a single room. And just next to me are Lihhern, Luojun and William :) Time to get doorknocking soon to meet the other neighbours though! Good way to prep up for exchange next sem.
Still undecided on either Sweden or Germany. On one hand, the Swedish unis have this huge student-run organizations called "Nations", which are like a super-happening, all-encompassing version of hall JCRC or school committees. They organize everything from restaurants, cafes, pubs to libraries, community events, festivals! My buddy Erik from Uppsala tells me that his best friend is the chairperson of a Nation, which entails taking one full year off from studies, to manage it full-time. Now THAT is a heavy commitment!
On the other hand, Germany is cheaper to live in. And i haven't really looked at their student life there, which undoubtedly wouldn't lose out to the Swedish unis. But anyway, as long as it's Europe, i'm sure it'll be quite happening either ways :)
.. Damn it's lonely in a single-room haha. Miss the times with Alvin.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hall XI FOC 2010: A Happy Ending
Yep, all's well that ends well.
Despite the overwhelming stress, the persistent sense of weariness, and even threats and complaints from the public throughout the week, we made it. And we made it, not because of some sheer stroke of luck, but because of one whole year of drive, planning and commitment to a single vision: to create the most fun and memorable camp ever.
It wasn't perfect. But i thought it was pretty damn good. And i messaged each and every comm member, to thank them for their integral role in our success. Here's their replies, just to remember them by:
GLs...
-Haha nah la dun mention. That's my role :) Thanks for ur effort too, being a pillar of support for both freshies n seniors!
-It's all worth it! =) And sebast, thank you for spurring us on from the pre-FOC period to during the camp itself, really appreciate it! It's not easy to make decisions, and on top of that decision that will affect evry1 that is involved in FOC. but you've pulled through and make this camp a success! Thank you =)
-Yup :) no worries!! Same for u sebas! Saw tt u were super tired during the camp! N it's finally over now...Have a good rest!!
Programmers...
-Hey sebas, i didn't do much :) thank you for letting me be part of it. :)
- :) thanks for helping me out too during the camp
-Haha..yeah we put in alot of effort but was quite worried too..lucky was able to get help frm many ppl throughout n in e end everything was great! :) yep! c u in hall! :D
-Lolx welcome is thx to jy, wk and A who lead me well XD
-Thanks favourite chieftain! Hahaha. Thanks for always sending us encouraging emails and overseeing everything and being so calm all the time :)
-I had fun during foc! Thanks sebas, for making the difference in this yr's foc which is a major success! I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves alot! =) thanks!!
-Hey no problem well I'm glad to help out =)
-Haha it's ok, thanks for tolerating my bad temper sometimes. Just glad it ended with minimum hiccups. Really wasn't my sole efforts.. everyone made it work tgt, and most thankful is the log team, they played the major part in the camp, without A and his team there will not be foc too!
-Thank you for your personalised message :) I did try my best to help but time and money were pressing concerns. It has been a great foc though and you were a wonderful chair.
-The pleasure's all mine! :-) it's been an honour to work alongside someone as competent as you.. No regrets joining foc comm at all..
Logs...
-Dear sebas, you did it! You pulled off what I would think the best FOC hall 11 has had in recent years! There were new programs, new initiatives and everyone worked well with each other! Most importantly, I felt the freshies really enjoyed themselves this year! Great job forming, maintaining and keeping the entire comm focused on a common objective - to make FOC2010 the best FOC ever! :)
-Wa. Say until like so great. Feel so paiseh sia. But thx. Haha. No prob man. It's our job.
-haha thanks, juz doing my job lol
Others...
-Thanks for e compliment.. I know tat u appreciate my effort, n tat is sth tat i yearn most from my leaders.. Cya ard in hall 11..
-Hey. You're welcome! Everyone did their part and this foc turned out fantastic! You three did an awesome job. :)
-Thanks for the trust in us! U guys did a great job n foc was awesome ") glad to be part of the committee!
-Hi Sebas, great job on FOC, best one out of those I've experienced (and heard about). It was really great to be in the team - you made me feel like part of the family. Thanks again for everything and see you around in hall! :)
Despite the overwhelming stress, the persistent sense of weariness, and even threats and complaints from the public throughout the week, we made it. And we made it, not because of some sheer stroke of luck, but because of one whole year of drive, planning and commitment to a single vision: to create the most fun and memorable camp ever.
It wasn't perfect. But i thought it was pretty damn good. And i messaged each and every comm member, to thank them for their integral role in our success. Here's their replies, just to remember them by:
GLs...
-Haha nah la dun mention. That's my role :) Thanks for ur effort too, being a pillar of support for both freshies n seniors!
-It's all worth it! =) And sebast, thank you for spurring us on from the pre-FOC period to during the camp itself, really appreciate it! It's not easy to make decisions, and on top of that decision that will affect evry1 that is involved in FOC. but you've pulled through and make this camp a success! Thank you =)
-Yup :) no worries!! Same for u sebas! Saw tt u were super tired during the camp! N it's finally over now...Have a good rest!!
Programmers...
-Hey sebas, i didn't do much :) thank you for letting me be part of it. :)
- :) thanks for helping me out too during the camp
-Haha..yeah we put in alot of effort but was quite worried too..lucky was able to get help frm many ppl throughout n in e end everything was great! :) yep! c u in hall! :D
-Lolx welcome is thx to jy, wk and A who lead me well XD
-Thanks favourite chieftain! Hahaha. Thanks for always sending us encouraging emails and overseeing everything and being so calm all the time :)
-I had fun during foc! Thanks sebas, for making the difference in this yr's foc which is a major success! I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves alot! =) thanks!!
-Hey no problem well I'm glad to help out =)
-Haha it's ok, thanks for tolerating my bad temper sometimes. Just glad it ended with minimum hiccups. Really wasn't my sole efforts.. everyone made it work tgt, and most thankful is the log team, they played the major part in the camp, without A and his team there will not be foc too!
-Thank you for your personalised message :) I did try my best to help but time and money were pressing concerns. It has been a great foc though and you were a wonderful chair.
-The pleasure's all mine! :-) it's been an honour to work alongside someone as competent as you.. No regrets joining foc comm at all..
Logs...
-Dear sebas, you did it! You pulled off what I would think the best FOC hall 11 has had in recent years! There were new programs, new initiatives and everyone worked well with each other! Most importantly, I felt the freshies really enjoyed themselves this year! Great job forming, maintaining and keeping the entire comm focused on a common objective - to make FOC2010 the best FOC ever! :)
-Wa. Say until like so great. Feel so paiseh sia. But thx. Haha. No prob man. It's our job.
-haha thanks, juz doing my job lol
Others...
-Thanks for e compliment.. I know tat u appreciate my effort, n tat is sth tat i yearn most from my leaders.. Cya ard in hall 11..
-Hey. You're welcome! Everyone did their part and this foc turned out fantastic! You three did an awesome job. :)
-Thanks for the trust in us! U guys did a great job n foc was awesome ") glad to be part of the committee!
-Hi Sebas, great job on FOC, best one out of those I've experienced (and heard about). It was really great to be in the team - you made me feel like part of the family. Thanks again for everything and see you around in hall! :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A Takeaway
My last day of internship here at UBS.
It’s been a very enriching nine weeks, I’ve been seeing a lot and talking to all kinds of people, from IT, front-office sales and traders, etc. And it’s really a massive world, where you can visibly see how things flow, how a great organization emerges from the amalgam of thousands of employees, with a keen focus honed through decades of good practice. And IT here is huge, it’s an intricate system of interlinked units, and each seems quite exciting and different to explore. And the culture is one that is very much results-oriented, very professional. My evaluation is full of Bs and Cs, haha.
I just presented my project to a panel of managers from around the world (through conference call), and when they commented on it, I could really feel how naïve and ignorant I was. An old quote from Socrates struck me then:
Though I might not come back to pick myself up where I fell, I’ll be sure to bring along this treasure trove of knowledge with me from now on.
It’s been a very enriching nine weeks, I’ve been seeing a lot and talking to all kinds of people, from IT, front-office sales and traders, etc. And it’s really a massive world, where you can visibly see how things flow, how a great organization emerges from the amalgam of thousands of employees, with a keen focus honed through decades of good practice. And IT here is huge, it’s an intricate system of interlinked units, and each seems quite exciting and different to explore. And the culture is one that is very much results-oriented, very professional. My evaluation is full of Bs and Cs, haha.
I just presented my project to a panel of managers from around the world (through conference call), and when they commented on it, I could really feel how naïve and ignorant I was. An old quote from Socrates struck me then:
One thing only I know, and that is I know nothing.To be honest it has to be disappointing, to see that the project you take pride in is just not good enough. Yet it really fires me up to strive to improve next time, to be more inquisitive, more humble, less inflexible, and less timid. I want to be passionate and driven about learning.
Though I might not come back to pick myself up where I fell, I’ll be sure to bring along this treasure trove of knowledge with me from now on.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Career advice
I find it very intriguing, how everyone always says the same old, infamously cliche piece of career advice, "Follow your heart, and do what you want to do."
And nobody does.
And nobody does.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A small spot
It's my second last week at UBS.
Though I have not undergone as much pressure and work as the rest, I've tried to learn as much as i could. The sheer scale and magnitude of IT in UBS is really awe-inspiring, and revs up my interest in knowing how everything fits together into a trillion-dollar financial institution. Still, I don't have a clue in the world what i want to do for a career. And it definitely shows (and hurts) in my confidence, my drive factor. But there's no point thinking too much about it either, is there.
It's also my 3rd last week to FOC.
Things are going smoothly, with Shan, WC and i working hard along with the rest of the comm. We are really putting in great efforts to make sure we get every single aspect prepared for the camp. Even though it is always easy to get the mood high and for everyone to enjoy themselves during an orientation camp, I definitely want to minimize the trouble, the confusion, the last minute fumbling about behind the scenes. Every little detail we miss out now will cause someone to suffer down the road. That's the responsibility we uphold, and we have to take it very seriously.
At times i can't help but hate myself, for being so proud of my chairs and my comm one moment, and completely vexed and frustrated at not having things my way in the next. I'm clumsy at expressing myself, i'm so single-minded it blinds, and i regret every stubborn episode i get into. Please let me keep growing up. God knows i'm still a child.
And sometimes when i shed all these roles in my life, i feel so much self-doubt and emptiness. I can't help but wonder, What am I doing here? Where do i really belong?
... It must feel so good to be at ease with your life, to find a small little spot in this vast, diverse world where you can fit in happily.
Though I have not undergone as much pressure and work as the rest, I've tried to learn as much as i could. The sheer scale and magnitude of IT in UBS is really awe-inspiring, and revs up my interest in knowing how everything fits together into a trillion-dollar financial institution. Still, I don't have a clue in the world what i want to do for a career. And it definitely shows (and hurts) in my confidence, my drive factor. But there's no point thinking too much about it either, is there.
It's also my 3rd last week to FOC.
Things are going smoothly, with Shan, WC and i working hard along with the rest of the comm. We are really putting in great efforts to make sure we get every single aspect prepared for the camp. Even though it is always easy to get the mood high and for everyone to enjoy themselves during an orientation camp, I definitely want to minimize the trouble, the confusion, the last minute fumbling about behind the scenes. Every little detail we miss out now will cause someone to suffer down the road. That's the responsibility we uphold, and we have to take it very seriously.
At times i can't help but hate myself, for being so proud of my chairs and my comm one moment, and completely vexed and frustrated at not having things my way in the next. I'm clumsy at expressing myself, i'm so single-minded it blinds, and i regret every stubborn episode i get into. Please let me keep growing up. God knows i'm still a child.
And sometimes when i shed all these roles in my life, i feel so much self-doubt and emptiness. I can't help but wonder, What am I doing here? Where do i really belong?
... It must feel so good to be at ease with your life, to find a small little spot in this vast, diverse world where you can fit in happily.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A path to happiness
Reached the midway mark of my internship at UBS!
Things are starting to look up. I have been enjoying frequent conversations with my mentor TM, about career, self-development and life. Plus I made some breakthroughs recently in my project, by getting to know the front-office sales and traders. Last but not least, I made fast friends with LY, Mr Sun et al :) Sadly XF has ended his work here... and the rest, too, will finish up in a couple of weeks. I will dearly miss them and their silly antics, the crappy BS.
Today I went to join the Hall 11 Devils for their skirmish with some old birds team from Ngee Ann poly. Struck out twice, totally out of it haha. Made a solid hit to third base tho. And as usual, my outfield drought continues. The last time any good ball came to me was at the interhalls two years ago. But anyway, today was more to show face and catch up with the softball peeps than anything else. I haven't had time to catch up with them for so long.
Afterwards, rushed to Khai's birthday party. Had fun with the rainbow befrienders and kids, who're still very much spirited and lively. Ruijie sure wore me down by the time i brought him home! Haha. Anyway, Khai received loads of presents! Pohlin and Huijiao even prepared a custom-made birthday card. His family also pampered us with some good food and ice-cream cakes. And we ended the night playing with sparklers in the lobby.
Sometimes i wonder if life were meant to be busying about meeting friends, fulfilling commitments ... or spent freely without a care in the world.
And which would be the true path to happiness.
Things are starting to look up. I have been enjoying frequent conversations with my mentor TM, about career, self-development and life. Plus I made some breakthroughs recently in my project, by getting to know the front-office sales and traders. Last but not least, I made fast friends with LY, Mr Sun et al :) Sadly XF has ended his work here... and the rest, too, will finish up in a couple of weeks. I will dearly miss them and their silly antics, the crappy BS.
Today I went to join the Hall 11 Devils for their skirmish with some old birds team from Ngee Ann poly. Struck out twice, totally out of it haha. Made a solid hit to third base tho. And as usual, my outfield drought continues. The last time any good ball came to me was at the interhalls two years ago. But anyway, today was more to show face and catch up with the softball peeps than anything else. I haven't had time to catch up with them for so long.
Afterwards, rushed to Khai's birthday party. Had fun with the rainbow befrienders and kids, who're still very much spirited and lively. Ruijie sure wore me down by the time i brought him home! Haha. Anyway, Khai received loads of presents! Pohlin and Huijiao even prepared a custom-made birthday card. His family also pampered us with some good food and ice-cream cakes. And we ended the night playing with sparklers in the lobby.
Sometimes i wonder if life were meant to be busying about meeting friends, fulfilling commitments ... or spent freely without a care in the world.
And which would be the true path to happiness.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Reserved for fun
I've been really lazy to write nowadays... even though a lot of interesting things happened!
The past two weeks were spent in reservist ICT. Catching up with my old pals was really a blast, and we did all sorts of interesting stuff together. We played sports, drank beer, hung out at the pub, and even played an allnighter LAN on the last night! I like this bunch of team mates, they make everything seem more bearable. Plus i always feel very open with them. It's a huge change from work, definitely. I almost missed chatting freely to people!
It was, frankly speaking, a welcome opportunity for me to rest and relax, to take my time and smell the roses :) I guess i'm still not used to working life. Luckily life in the army is anything but work haha. Not for the men at least. We chilled in our bunks for quite a few days, playing cards, chatting or taking afternoon naps. I did some reading, but not much. Besides this, we went for three fitness tests, and i failed my running the first time... getting out of shape! Ha... need to maintain a jogging routine soon.
Let's see... we also went outfield for a total of four days, two nights. My role was pretty relaxed, though i helped out whenever i could. Lots of mosquito and sandfly bumps on my skin afterwards. The first shower after returning to camp still feels like dew from heaven.
Had quite a few interesting experiences too. Kenneth bought a Starlet for 3k, and ferried us all over. We went to Atlantis at Textile Centre, and then another at Windsor hotel. It was definitely an eyeopener for the rest of us! Though i wasn't that open, and didn't enjoy the smoke and noisy music (i eventually found a spot to hide and dozed off a couple hours), i found it new - and exciting - to see all the performances etc. Kudos to Kenneth for sharing with us a unique experience we might otherwise miss forever :)
Oh, and also after we out-processed at the end (we call it in-noob, out-pro), somehow we took a detour on a scenic route home, and landed up at the Sunset Grill and Bar, near Seletar air base. There were many airplanes standing all around, and we could see them take off from the roads nearby. They say the sunset can be seen here, a very full and beautiful one... have to come here again to see it someday.
But today we were here to try out the famous hot chicken wings - from level 1 to level 30. We jumped straight to order a dozen of level 5, thinking it was pretty ok to try it out. Turned out: the first bite we took had us downing half a glass of water!! And it was so blazing hot that we had to cut it up instead of biting it directly - it burned and stung our lips terribly otherwise. Talk about five-alarm chilli!
After much arduous struggle, we finished three wings each, haha. Kenneth said when his friends ordered level 10, it was completely untouched and wasted after their first mouths. You wouldn't even taste the chicken at all! Anyway, at level 5 this is de facto the hottest thing i've ever eaten. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Haha.
Well, and now's the end of the weekend, after reservist passed in a flash. Almost wished it were longer eh, haha. Back to work tomo. Good nights!
The past two weeks were spent in reservist ICT. Catching up with my old pals was really a blast, and we did all sorts of interesting stuff together. We played sports, drank beer, hung out at the pub, and even played an allnighter LAN on the last night! I like this bunch of team mates, they make everything seem more bearable. Plus i always feel very open with them. It's a huge change from work, definitely. I almost missed chatting freely to people!
It was, frankly speaking, a welcome opportunity for me to rest and relax, to take my time and smell the roses :) I guess i'm still not used to working life. Luckily life in the army is anything but work haha. Not for the men at least. We chilled in our bunks for quite a few days, playing cards, chatting or taking afternoon naps. I did some reading, but not much. Besides this, we went for three fitness tests, and i failed my running the first time... getting out of shape! Ha... need to maintain a jogging routine soon.
Let's see... we also went outfield for a total of four days, two nights. My role was pretty relaxed, though i helped out whenever i could. Lots of mosquito and sandfly bumps on my skin afterwards. The first shower after returning to camp still feels like dew from heaven.
Had quite a few interesting experiences too. Kenneth bought a Starlet for 3k, and ferried us all over. We went to Atlantis at Textile Centre, and then another at Windsor hotel. It was definitely an eyeopener for the rest of us! Though i wasn't that open, and didn't enjoy the smoke and noisy music (i eventually found a spot to hide and dozed off a couple hours), i found it new - and exciting - to see all the performances etc. Kudos to Kenneth for sharing with us a unique experience we might otherwise miss forever :)
Oh, and also after we out-processed at the end (we call it in-noob, out-pro), somehow we took a detour on a scenic route home, and landed up at the Sunset Grill and Bar, near Seletar air base. There were many airplanes standing all around, and we could see them take off from the roads nearby. They say the sunset can be seen here, a very full and beautiful one... have to come here again to see it someday.
But today we were here to try out the famous hot chicken wings - from level 1 to level 30. We jumped straight to order a dozen of level 5, thinking it was pretty ok to try it out. Turned out: the first bite we took had us downing half a glass of water!! And it was so blazing hot that we had to cut it up instead of biting it directly - it burned and stung our lips terribly otherwise. Talk about five-alarm chilli!
After much arduous struggle, we finished three wings each, haha. Kenneth said when his friends ordered level 10, it was completely untouched and wasted after their first mouths. You wouldn't even taste the chicken at all! Anyway, at level 5 this is de facto the hottest thing i've ever eaten. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Haha.
Well, and now's the end of the weekend, after reservist passed in a flash. Almost wished it were longer eh, haha. Back to work tomo. Good nights!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Camp Rainbow 2010 :)
Back from Camp Rainbow 2010 : Artitude! :)
It feels like i've just came back from a weekend sabbatical. Completely refreshed and at ease with the world. This year's camp was small yet cozy, with quite some fresh activities related to art and decoration. Planned and executed pretty well, too. From the past year of experience organizing Hall FOC, i could understand and appreciate more of the effort and planning that go behind everything. That plus we have some of the camp's most experienced and passionate leaders, like Poh Lin, Hui Jiao, Ben and Sham... i felt that everyone, kids and befrienders alike, thoroughly enjoyed themselves these few days :)
It's strange what a difference a few days make. We forged many close bonds between ourselves and the kids. My charges RJ and Sam were pretty easy to handle, because they knew when to behave (and when to let loose and play!) The other kids... HX was mischievous as usual, haha. Rachel was more mature this time round, but she still managed to have fun. YZ is still as cool as ever, and I'm glad he's with Ben now, who can talk better to him.
The new kids.. Khai was shy and well-behaved, but warmed up to us soon enough (and liked to tickle me till i got bowled over!) Fir was the oldest, but with our constant effort, he melded in and enjoyed the activities as well. And Al, well he always made my heart jump out when he went wild sometimes! But i think i got used to it after awhile, ha. Aaron, well i started on the wrong step with him and he called me 'Baddie' all the way (along with many others) lol. And last but not least, Bell was very, very shy but cute in her own way, and very nice towards everyone! I exchanged a lot of small gifts with her :) Sadly i didn't manage to get her to be bolder and open up her voice more.
It was tough, but the befrienders Ben, Sham, Luke, Ian, Felise, Shi Hong seemed matched to them like a perfect fit. Mature Ian for HX, seniors Ben and Sham (and I) to handle two kids each, first-timer Luke with the very easy-going Khai haha. Anyway, the kids seem to have a lot of fun. I wish they wouldn't bully me so much though! Haha.
But i'm really glad that i have visibly grown much from the last camp. I continually got the kids to warm up to each other and to us, I had great conversations with the other befrienders, and I got to know more people from the committee too. (when i had the time, a rarity mostly). I have the grueling training in JCRC and as FOC Chair to thank for this :) It's good to have a kind of benchmark, to see how i fare against myself from a year or two back.
Every single day was memorable, so maybe i'll blog about it later. I'm just bushed right now.
Three days of meaningful fun do get one worn out :)
It feels like i've just came back from a weekend sabbatical. Completely refreshed and at ease with the world. This year's camp was small yet cozy, with quite some fresh activities related to art and decoration. Planned and executed pretty well, too. From the past year of experience organizing Hall FOC, i could understand and appreciate more of the effort and planning that go behind everything. That plus we have some of the camp's most experienced and passionate leaders, like Poh Lin, Hui Jiao, Ben and Sham... i felt that everyone, kids and befrienders alike, thoroughly enjoyed themselves these few days :)
It's strange what a difference a few days make. We forged many close bonds between ourselves and the kids. My charges RJ and Sam were pretty easy to handle, because they knew when to behave (and when to let loose and play!) The other kids... HX was mischievous as usual, haha. Rachel was more mature this time round, but she still managed to have fun. YZ is still as cool as ever, and I'm glad he's with Ben now, who can talk better to him.
The new kids.. Khai was shy and well-behaved, but warmed up to us soon enough (and liked to tickle me till i got bowled over!) Fir was the oldest, but with our constant effort, he melded in and enjoyed the activities as well. And Al, well he always made my heart jump out when he went wild sometimes! But i think i got used to it after awhile, ha. Aaron, well i started on the wrong step with him and he called me 'Baddie' all the way (along with many others) lol. And last but not least, Bell was very, very shy but cute in her own way, and very nice towards everyone! I exchanged a lot of small gifts with her :) Sadly i didn't manage to get her to be bolder and open up her voice more.
It was tough, but the befrienders Ben, Sham, Luke, Ian, Felise, Shi Hong seemed matched to them like a perfect fit. Mature Ian for HX, seniors Ben and Sham (and I) to handle two kids each, first-timer Luke with the very easy-going Khai haha. Anyway, the kids seem to have a lot of fun. I wish they wouldn't bully me so much though! Haha.
But i'm really glad that i have visibly grown much from the last camp. I continually got the kids to warm up to each other and to us, I had great conversations with the other befrienders, and I got to know more people from the committee too. (when i had the time, a rarity mostly). I have the grueling training in JCRC and as FOC Chair to thank for this :) It's good to have a kind of benchmark, to see how i fare against myself from a year or two back.
Every single day was memorable, so maybe i'll blog about it later. I'm just bushed right now.
Three days of meaningful fun do get one worn out :)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thoughts from the office
Everyone here at UBS is really driven! Wow. I'm not sure if i like to work in such an environment... but i'll take my time to find out.
---
I have a really interesting project! Think i have much to learn from it. Luckily there's no coding involved.
---
OMG just checked results. I can't believe it. I'm supposed to have sacrificed this sem's modules, due to CCA commitments! Man this is weird.
---
Just had dinner at Brewerkz, with some of the interns from all the three offices. First time meeting them, so it'll still take some time to blend in.
But anyway, it has been a long and fruitful week. I leave work everyday enriched with new knowledge, about the workings of a financial institution, about the intricate issues involved and the different functions that make it up. I spend a lot of my time purveying documents and info not accessible to the public - like reports by experts on the economy, messages sent from Chief xx Officers, and the various e-learning modules online.
The perspective from within the organization is really different. What you read about in Time or Fortune is actually just the tip of the iceberg; you have to be within it to see what lies beneath. It's amazing. It's like seeing a storybook come to life. Just that the storybook has a trillion dollar net worth, and has 65,000 characters running around the globe.
And i like that i'm doing a cross IT-Business project. I'll be presenting the idea to a bunch of managers next week! Owe it to my boss for giving me the exposure. It enables me to talk to people, garner information and work independently. A very well-rounded, full-bodied kinda thing. Plus help is always around the corner, so i feel quite comfortable in the job.
Anyway, the job experience has given me an opportunity to explore issues like career, success, fulfillment, life goals. The good thing about being an intern is that everyone becomes your mentor. Good timing, too, because my mind is filled with doubts and questions.
Like, what is the value of having good grades? Perhaps i haven't been here too long, but i really don't see how it helps at all. Sure, i can recognise common elements in my daily readings from what i've learned in school, but does it really aid me in my work? I don't quite see the point of getting good grades anymore. Actually, i lost the motivation since the start of the year, which is why i was surprised at my grades. I don't think i even wanted to do well. As long as you keep building up your soft skills and technical knowledge, you don't have to get every assignment picture-perfect, or cram like mad each exam season.
A bigger worry, though, is that i still don't feel fulfilled. I volunteer, i have good friends, i take up leadership roles, and i do well in school. But somehow it just doesn't add up. It doesn't make me feel satisfied with myself. It doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart, well not for long anyway. What must i do? I want to value myself, to give my life meaning. But nothing's working. Nothing.
And still life goes on.
---
I have a really interesting project! Think i have much to learn from it. Luckily there's no coding involved.
---
OMG just checked results. I can't believe it. I'm supposed to have sacrificed this sem's modules, due to CCA commitments! Man this is weird.
---
Just had dinner at Brewerkz, with some of the interns from all the three offices. First time meeting them, so it'll still take some time to blend in.
But anyway, it has been a long and fruitful week. I leave work everyday enriched with new knowledge, about the workings of a financial institution, about the intricate issues involved and the different functions that make it up. I spend a lot of my time purveying documents and info not accessible to the public - like reports by experts on the economy, messages sent from Chief xx Officers, and the various e-learning modules online.
The perspective from within the organization is really different. What you read about in Time or Fortune is actually just the tip of the iceberg; you have to be within it to see what lies beneath. It's amazing. It's like seeing a storybook come to life. Just that the storybook has a trillion dollar net worth, and has 65,000 characters running around the globe.
And i like that i'm doing a cross IT-Business project. I'll be presenting the idea to a bunch of managers next week! Owe it to my boss for giving me the exposure. It enables me to talk to people, garner information and work independently. A very well-rounded, full-bodied kinda thing. Plus help is always around the corner, so i feel quite comfortable in the job.
Anyway, the job experience has given me an opportunity to explore issues like career, success, fulfillment, life goals. The good thing about being an intern is that everyone becomes your mentor. Good timing, too, because my mind is filled with doubts and questions.
Like, what is the value of having good grades? Perhaps i haven't been here too long, but i really don't see how it helps at all. Sure, i can recognise common elements in my daily readings from what i've learned in school, but does it really aid me in my work? I don't quite see the point of getting good grades anymore. Actually, i lost the motivation since the start of the year, which is why i was surprised at my grades. I don't think i even wanted to do well. As long as you keep building up your soft skills and technical knowledge, you don't have to get every assignment picture-perfect, or cram like mad each exam season.
A bigger worry, though, is that i still don't feel fulfilled. I volunteer, i have good friends, i take up leadership roles, and i do well in school. But somehow it just doesn't add up. It doesn't make me feel satisfied with myself. It doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart, well not for long anyway. What must i do? I want to value myself, to give my life meaning. But nothing's working. Nothing.
And still life goes on.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Fulfilment
What a weekend.
Sat morn till afternoon was spent clearing out the FOC stores, packing them to move to Shan's factory and Nanyang house for storage during this hols. The Logs guys all worked hard and tirelessly to complete the job in double-quick time. Kudos to Franklin, Alan Toh, Avin, Kaiyan and of course Logs Head Alan Phua for burning their Sat for FOC :) And also to my dad, who provided his lorry and driving services for the day! He even had time to help some Filipino family move house in-between our packing, haha. And of course Weichong and Shan, who are the best co-chairs i could ever have. Everyone made it a breezy and successful moving out of hall. We even had a sneak peek at Shan's beautiful house :D
After that, i met Maran and Jingyi at Bugis, where Maran gave us a treat at a fine Indian cuisine restaurant, Riverwalk Tandoor in the Golden Landmark Hotel. I have to say, the buffet fare there - especially the different vegetarian curry dishes - totally blew my mind away. It was fantabulous - scrumptilicious - and i enjoyed every bite. Maran gave us a tour on each gastronomic delight, making it culturally enriching to boot.
Sadly i felt full very quickly, probably due to the high milk and cheese content in the curry and naan. So we left and fooled abit with taking photos in the hotel. It was then that i felt nauseous and ill, and Maran and Jy took care of me through my waves of nausea, till i reached home. Really, really thanks to these great pals, and it was a great pity i couldn't enjoy the food i'd eaten :( I wish my stomach would grow more sturdy.
The next day, after a grueling night, i had to go for Camp Rainbow's welcome tea. My brother touched me by getting up at 7am especially to wake me up. :) Still it took my mum to wake me up again after my snooze before i got up haha. So at Singapore Arts Museum, 8Q street, i had a reunion with all my 'old' friends... Winnie, Ryan, and the kids Yong Zhuo, Samuel, Rachel. I realised that the other kid i'm in charge of, Rui Jie, was the same kid i'd looked after at the Welcome tea two years ago! Haha. Everyone seemed to look the same. And it's been two years already, wow.
I also met some new faces, like the befrienders in my group, Ian, Luke, Felise. I didn't really get to talk to the rest yet. I also bumped into Jewel, as NTU and NUS's accounting clubs are supporting Ernst and Young in this event. EY is a partner of Camp Rainbow. There were many other volunteers from EY there too, like the pretty emcee who was very good, and popular with the kids!
On the whole, the kids had loads more fun inside the Art museum, where they looked at some exhibits and did some activities. The games that Jewel et al facilitated outdoors were ... well, not all that fun. For our group aged 10-13, it wasn't terribly exciting. Most of them were scaled-down versions of ice-breakers. I'd think that concrete, playable things like puzzles would appeal more to the kids. Anyway the place was a tad too cramped and noisy.
But kids are kids, after all, and enjoyed themselves very easily, just playing with their befrienders and with each other. That is the whole point of the event, after all. I'd say that the event was a success :)
Afterwards, i sent Samuel and Rui Jie back home. They click together surprisingly well, despite their differences in personality! Haha. We had a roaring good time playing Hangman on the train. This year's camp bodes to be highly interesting indeed.
Well, i'm bushed for the time being.
Sat morn till afternoon was spent clearing out the FOC stores, packing them to move to Shan's factory and Nanyang house for storage during this hols. The Logs guys all worked hard and tirelessly to complete the job in double-quick time. Kudos to Franklin, Alan Toh, Avin, Kaiyan and of course Logs Head Alan Phua for burning their Sat for FOC :) And also to my dad, who provided his lorry and driving services for the day! He even had time to help some Filipino family move house in-between our packing, haha. And of course Weichong and Shan, who are the best co-chairs i could ever have. Everyone made it a breezy and successful moving out of hall. We even had a sneak peek at Shan's beautiful house :D
After that, i met Maran and Jingyi at Bugis, where Maran gave us a treat at a fine Indian cuisine restaurant, Riverwalk Tandoor in the Golden Landmark Hotel. I have to say, the buffet fare there - especially the different vegetarian curry dishes - totally blew my mind away. It was fantabulous - scrumptilicious - and i enjoyed every bite. Maran gave us a tour on each gastronomic delight, making it culturally enriching to boot.
Sadly i felt full very quickly, probably due to the high milk and cheese content in the curry and naan. So we left and fooled abit with taking photos in the hotel. It was then that i felt nauseous and ill, and Maran and Jy took care of me through my waves of nausea, till i reached home. Really, really thanks to these great pals, and it was a great pity i couldn't enjoy the food i'd eaten :( I wish my stomach would grow more sturdy.
The next day, after a grueling night, i had to go for Camp Rainbow's welcome tea. My brother touched me by getting up at 7am especially to wake me up. :) Still it took my mum to wake me up again after my snooze before i got up haha. So at Singapore Arts Museum, 8Q street, i had a reunion with all my 'old' friends... Winnie, Ryan, and the kids Yong Zhuo, Samuel, Rachel. I realised that the other kid i'm in charge of, Rui Jie, was the same kid i'd looked after at the Welcome tea two years ago! Haha. Everyone seemed to look the same. And it's been two years already, wow.
I also met some new faces, like the befrienders in my group, Ian, Luke, Felise. I didn't really get to talk to the rest yet. I also bumped into Jewel, as NTU and NUS's accounting clubs are supporting Ernst and Young in this event. EY is a partner of Camp Rainbow. There were many other volunteers from EY there too, like the pretty emcee who was very good, and popular with the kids!
On the whole, the kids had loads more fun inside the Art museum, where they looked at some exhibits and did some activities. The games that Jewel et al facilitated outdoors were ... well, not all that fun. For our group aged 10-13, it wasn't terribly exciting. Most of them were scaled-down versions of ice-breakers. I'd think that concrete, playable things like puzzles would appeal more to the kids. Anyway the place was a tad too cramped and noisy.
But kids are kids, after all, and enjoyed themselves very easily, just playing with their befrienders and with each other. That is the whole point of the event, after all. I'd say that the event was a success :)
Afterwards, i sent Samuel and Rui Jie back home. They click together surprisingly well, despite their differences in personality! Haha. We had a roaring good time playing Hangman on the train. This year's camp bodes to be highly interesting indeed.
Well, i'm bushed for the time being.
Friday, May 14, 2010
A trio of friends
Today marks the end of CIDP, or Computer Innovation and Design Programme.
We presented to Prof Malcolm and he gave us a scathing review on our project. Well not really. Probably an A-. But the grade wouldn't justify the kind of effort that people like Jingyi and Maran put into the project. Then again, i knew they never did it for the grades. That's why i admire them. For being wise enough to see past the surface, having the foresight to set goals for the future and the discipline to make them happen. Me? I'm kinda lacking in the discipline department. Meanwhile, i'll still leech to them and form our fun, crazy, brilliant and undoubtedly silly trio. Looking forward to 2 more years of this!
Thinking about it, a trio of friends bears a lot of meaning for me. In Hall i had so much fun in a trio. With Alvin and Weichong last semester, playing squash at midnight, board games, sharing the saikang, or lending a listening ear when it mattered most. And in the first year, it was Brandon and Weichong, as well as all the freshie rooms in the level 4 corridor. I don't think i'll get back the feeling ever again. But hopefully new experiences await. Hopefully i'll always get this lucky.
Perhaps the idea of going about with two close friends really appeals to me. Making fun of each other and having someone else to laugh. Running into misunderstandings and having a middleman to settle them. Doing crazy things with just that extra bit of courage or opinion. And most of all, because having even one more friend with whom you can laugh without a care, kick his ass freely, and trust and depend on with your life, is just so much more... awesome.
All of a sudden i thought about the jc times when wudao, gaoshan and i said the funniest and weirdest conversations, did the stupidest and craziest things. I miss them, as well as all my old friends. But i'm looking forward to the next time we meet up. I know we will. And they'll be just the same as before. Somehow i just know it.
That these trios of friends that i have, will always be my best friends in the whole wide world.
We presented to Prof Malcolm and he gave us a scathing review on our project. Well not really. Probably an A-. But the grade wouldn't justify the kind of effort that people like Jingyi and Maran put into the project. Then again, i knew they never did it for the grades. That's why i admire them. For being wise enough to see past the surface, having the foresight to set goals for the future and the discipline to make them happen. Me? I'm kinda lacking in the discipline department. Meanwhile, i'll still leech to them and form our fun, crazy, brilliant and undoubtedly silly trio. Looking forward to 2 more years of this!
Thinking about it, a trio of friends bears a lot of meaning for me. In Hall i had so much fun in a trio. With Alvin and Weichong last semester, playing squash at midnight, board games, sharing the saikang, or lending a listening ear when it mattered most. And in the first year, it was Brandon and Weichong, as well as all the freshie rooms in the level 4 corridor. I don't think i'll get back the feeling ever again. But hopefully new experiences await. Hopefully i'll always get this lucky.
Perhaps the idea of going about with two close friends really appeals to me. Making fun of each other and having someone else to laugh. Running into misunderstandings and having a middleman to settle them. Doing crazy things with just that extra bit of courage or opinion. And most of all, because having even one more friend with whom you can laugh without a care, kick his ass freely, and trust and depend on with your life, is just so much more... awesome.
All of a sudden i thought about the jc times when wudao, gaoshan and i said the funniest and weirdest conversations, did the stupidest and craziest things. I miss them, as well as all my old friends. But i'm looking forward to the next time we meet up. I know we will. And they'll be just the same as before. Somehow i just know it.
That these trios of friends that i have, will always be my best friends in the whole wide world.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Resolution
It's been a long time. Since the last time i've been proud of myself, i mean. That's why i've made a resolution this hols, to stop wasting my time, and start enriching my life. This year, I will still keep my commitment to go to Camp Rainbow, I will make the Hall FOC great, and I will rekindle my interest in books. No more computer games for me, no more idling around the house.
Books i've read so far... Yosl Rakover Talks to God. A short, rambling narrative, seemingly written by a Jew in his last hours in the Warsaw ghetto, the Holocaust. He professes an undying faith in a cruel and bullying God. It gained such a degree of authenticity that people scorned the Jewish author when he said he had written it (and he wasn't even in the Holocaust!)
I believe in the sun, even when it doesn't shine.
I believe in love, even when i don't feel it.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.
- Inscription on the wall of a cellar in Cologne where some Jews remained hidden for the entire duration of the war.
I'm halfway through Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Despite the differences in generation culture, technology and lifestyle, some things in childhood will always be common. The playfulness, the cruelty, the overflowing emotions. The ignorance, the kindness, the pure happiness. Our childhood memories haunt us like a shadow, a deep, sinking shadow cast by the light of innocence.
I'm relishing every bit of the book.
And the reason i had three whopping hours to read it was... i'd went in the opposite direction on the MRT. The next thing i knew, when i raised my head it was Bedok. Oh Merde. And i turned around towards Boon Lay. Sigh.
This was after i'd met up with my kid for this year's Camp Rainbow, Samuel. He's quite a mature, conscientious kid. He had this thing that said, "Goals to achieve this year. Social: ... Academic: ... Leadership: ...". At age 12! When i was his age, i was still pulling girls' ponytails or something.
What a change a day makes...
Books i've read so far... Yosl Rakover Talks to God. A short, rambling narrative, seemingly written by a Jew in his last hours in the Warsaw ghetto, the Holocaust. He professes an undying faith in a cruel and bullying God. It gained such a degree of authenticity that people scorned the Jewish author when he said he had written it (and he wasn't even in the Holocaust!)
I believe in the sun, even when it doesn't shine.
I believe in love, even when i don't feel it.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.
- Inscription on the wall of a cellar in Cologne where some Jews remained hidden for the entire duration of the war.
I'm halfway through Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Despite the differences in generation culture, technology and lifestyle, some things in childhood will always be common. The playfulness, the cruelty, the overflowing emotions. The ignorance, the kindness, the pure happiness. Our childhood memories haunt us like a shadow, a deep, sinking shadow cast by the light of innocence.
I'm relishing every bit of the book.
And the reason i had three whopping hours to read it was... i'd went in the opposite direction on the MRT. The next thing i knew, when i raised my head it was Bedok. Oh Merde. And i turned around towards Boon Lay. Sigh.
This was after i'd met up with my kid for this year's Camp Rainbow, Samuel. He's quite a mature, conscientious kid. He had this thing that said, "Goals to achieve this year. Social: ... Academic: ... Leadership: ...". At age 12! When i was his age, i was still pulling girls' ponytails or something.
What a change a day makes...
Monday, April 26, 2010
In the Doldrums
First day of exams for me!!! As usual, they've managed to schedule a business paper and a computing paper on the same day. I presume it's to make our lives more difficult than it already is.
Sadly for the Financial Mgmt exam in the morning, I had an awful diarrhoea midway. I did half of the paper cringed up on the edge of my seat, in a completely pained state of mind, before i finally gave up and went to the toilet :( When i came back, i had half an hour to do almost half the paper! Luckily i pulled through in time, though i skipped a lot of workings. Well, these things happen. Anyway, i thought it was a crazy paper. Or maybe i just wasn't in my best condition.
Later in the afternoon was Computer Graphics, which had mostly pretty standard questions. After the nightmare earlier on, i had a rather tame time with this paper, quite satisfactory. I had no inkling whatsoever about what was going on for this module throughout the semester, so it's miraculous that everything asked within my knowledge :) Computing papers always tend to be set at an easier level, and a professor once told me it's to let locals like us pass! That's ...well, nice.
Well, that's two down, and two more to go.
Sadly for the Financial Mgmt exam in the morning, I had an awful diarrhoea midway. I did half of the paper cringed up on the edge of my seat, in a completely pained state of mind, before i finally gave up and went to the toilet :( When i came back, i had half an hour to do almost half the paper! Luckily i pulled through in time, though i skipped a lot of workings. Well, these things happen. Anyway, i thought it was a crazy paper. Or maybe i just wasn't in my best condition.
Later in the afternoon was Computer Graphics, which had mostly pretty standard questions. After the nightmare earlier on, i had a rather tame time with this paper, quite satisfactory. I had no inkling whatsoever about what was going on for this module throughout the semester, so it's miraculous that everything asked within my knowledge :) Computing papers always tend to be set at an easier level, and a professor once told me it's to let locals like us pass! That's ...well, nice.
Well, that's two down, and two more to go.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
23 years old!
Today is my birthday, as many people have reminded me :)
Thanks to T-grp who sneaked outside my room with much subtlety and celebrated my birthday at midnight! There were people from 3 generations of T og haha. The cake was choco-licious too.
And a very touched thanks to Jingyi and Maran, who came in the morning to deliver their cake and custom-made card!! Haha, it was really such a surprise. I am glad to have them as my closest course mates and friends in school :)
Still studying for SAP certification test tomo.
Thanks to T-grp who sneaked outside my room with much subtlety and celebrated my birthday at midnight! There were people from 3 generations of T og haha. The cake was choco-licious too.
And a very touched thanks to Jingyi and Maran, who came in the morning to deliver their cake and custom-made card!! Haha, it was really such a surprise. I am glad to have them as my closest course mates and friends in school :)
Still studying for SAP certification test tomo.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Down.
I remember being drunk.
Daring to be open. Showing emotions freely. Being yourself. And i miss the feeling.
Now everything just feels so pent up. So surreal that it feels like an identity switch.
Who is this person living my life now? Why is he doing this to me?
But i'm glad he handles all my commitments, all my duties oh so finely. He juggles all mystudies well, he does so much himself without showing a sign of weakness, always striving for the best decisions in the long term. Even though he won't be popular for it. Even though no one will even care two hoots about what he's done. But he perseveres. He thrives. The pressure just makes him stronger, stronger, stronger.
Not I. I feel like breaking down, but i can't do that now.
I want to give up, but i'm not allowed to do so.
I feel like crying out loud, but...
I forgot how.
And so i long.
I long and I long and I long for the moment when i can let everything down, when i owe nothing to anyone, when i can live my own life. Without a care in the world.
So please, let me change back to the soppy, wimpy, crybaby self that i was. Let me get back to a life where nothing mattered more than being happy and carefree.
Because this is taking over me.
And i feel sad...
So very, terribly sad.
Daring to be open. Showing emotions freely. Being yourself. And i miss the feeling.
Now everything just feels so pent up. So surreal that it feels like an identity switch.
Who is this person living my life now? Why is he doing this to me?
But i'm glad he handles all my commitments, all my duties oh so finely. He juggles all mystudies well, he does so much himself without showing a sign of weakness, always striving for the best decisions in the long term. Even though he won't be popular for it. Even though no one will even care two hoots about what he's done. But he perseveres. He thrives. The pressure just makes him stronger, stronger, stronger.
Not I. I feel like breaking down, but i can't do that now.
I want to give up, but i'm not allowed to do so.
I feel like crying out loud, but...
I forgot how.
And so i long.
I long and I long and I long for the moment when i can let everything down, when i owe nothing to anyone, when i can live my own life. Without a care in the world.
So please, let me change back to the soppy, wimpy, crybaby self that i was. Let me get back to a life where nothing mattered more than being happy and carefree.
Because this is taking over me.
And i feel sad...
So very, terribly sad.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Busy Busy
Amazing Race, IE Singapore is finally over.
What a stressful, tiring week it has been! Days of drawing up the final programme and instruction sheets, going down to town to shop for logistics, briefing the station masters and facilitators, and pretty much making sure we didn't miss out anything.
Well but mishaps are inevitable. Things like someone oversleeping and missing our coach :x Still, i'm surprised everything still went quite smoothly despite the very, very tight timeline.
All thanks to the hugely enthusiastic participants! They pretty much blown me away at the first mass station, where they could hardly quieten down to listen to me brief. What a bunch of rowdy ... adults. Probably all too excited to finally get out of the office and breathe the fresh beach air :) The station masters and facilitators did good too, despite the very last minute briefings. Think it must have been exhausting for them to keep up with the crazy groups running all over the place!
I'm just glad to be able to continue on with life now. Today was hectic as well, as I went to the Nanyang Audi for the URECA Poster Competition. Hardly anyone i knew there... so i just made friends from scratch :) Xiao Long, Cheun Pin and others. There were loads of amazing projects out there. Mine really pales in comparison: http://helloworldureca.appspot.com/ But i guess it was a fun and interesting experience, and my presentation even got video-graphed!
Sadly after returning back to hall at night, I fell into the Jingyi-Maran-PanShu antlion, and they swallowed me into our software project. Hmm but not much coding done, we spent an hour talking about a particular "team dynamics" issue, which was quite interesting... haha.
Talking about people who get over their head... I've seen quite a few of them. I wonder what makes them the way they are? Environment, or genes? Either way, it sure is a nasty combination. Easily offended, easily offending... life is already tough enough as it is.
Isn't it?
What a stressful, tiring week it has been! Days of drawing up the final programme and instruction sheets, going down to town to shop for logistics, briefing the station masters and facilitators, and pretty much making sure we didn't miss out anything.
Well but mishaps are inevitable. Things like someone oversleeping and missing our coach :x Still, i'm surprised everything still went quite smoothly despite the very, very tight timeline.
All thanks to the hugely enthusiastic participants! They pretty much blown me away at the first mass station, where they could hardly quieten down to listen to me brief. What a bunch of rowdy ... adults. Probably all too excited to finally get out of the office and breathe the fresh beach air :) The station masters and facilitators did good too, despite the very last minute briefings. Think it must have been exhausting for them to keep up with the crazy groups running all over the place!
I'm just glad to be able to continue on with life now. Today was hectic as well, as I went to the Nanyang Audi for the URECA Poster Competition. Hardly anyone i knew there... so i just made friends from scratch :) Xiao Long, Cheun Pin and others. There were loads of amazing projects out there. Mine really pales in comparison: http://helloworldureca.appspot.com/ But i guess it was a fun and interesting experience, and my presentation even got video-graphed!
Sadly after returning back to hall at night, I fell into the Jingyi-Maran-PanShu antlion, and they swallowed me into our software project. Hmm but not much coding done, we spent an hour talking about a particular "team dynamics" issue, which was quite interesting... haha.
Talking about people who get over their head... I've seen quite a few of them. I wonder what makes them the way they are? Environment, or genes? Either way, it sure is a nasty combination. Easily offended, easily offending... life is already tough enough as it is.
Isn't it?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Game.
21/02/2010.. Interhall Rugby semifinals: Hall XI vs Hall III.
Today happened because hooligans, not gentlemen, played a hooligans' game. The match was doomed to be memorable. One red card, one yellow card. Two players sent off and a penalty given to us.
It probably disfigured Hall Three's image in one fell swoop. Spectators will say that it was an inglorious victory for them, an unscrupulous, dirty team who fought without honour. It took just a few of them who hooked our players by the throat to arouse the righteous fury of everyone present, who immediately rose in uproarious protest. I myself showed the middle finger. Haha.
Yet we're forgetting that like us, they're only students playing as a hall team, passionate for the game, thirsty for the victory. We may term them however we like, but deep down are they really the terrible people we curse and swear at? Don't they resume their studies the next day, sitting in the same lecture theatre as us, doing the very same things we do every day? It doesn't make sense, does it.
Perhaps we're letting our emotions get the better of us. We may say that their behavior today was unsportsmanlike, unbecoming of a good rugby team. But let us not extend our prejudice to their hall, to their residents, who, like us, are just... human.
And we all err.
Today happened because hooligans, not gentlemen, played a hooligans' game. The match was doomed to be memorable. One red card, one yellow card. Two players sent off and a penalty given to us.
It probably disfigured Hall Three's image in one fell swoop. Spectators will say that it was an inglorious victory for them, an unscrupulous, dirty team who fought without honour. It took just a few of them who hooked our players by the throat to arouse the righteous fury of everyone present, who immediately rose in uproarious protest. I myself showed the middle finger. Haha.
Yet we're forgetting that like us, they're only students playing as a hall team, passionate for the game, thirsty for the victory. We may term them however we like, but deep down are they really the terrible people we curse and swear at? Don't they resume their studies the next day, sitting in the same lecture theatre as us, doing the very same things we do every day? It doesn't make sense, does it.
Perhaps we're letting our emotions get the better of us. We may say that their behavior today was unsportsmanlike, unbecoming of a good rugby team. But let us not extend our prejudice to their hall, to their residents, who, like us, are just... human.
And we all err.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Reflection
Well then, it's that time of the year.
Aloysius asked me for a reflection of my role as Special Events Director over the past year. I sure didn't know what i was getting into when i joined. I wanted to get to know people outside hall and be more active in school activities, but it turned out quite badly when i realized hall was still taking up a huge chunk of my time.
Last semester flew past way too quickly. At first i was busy recruiting the FOC committee. Then the database project deluged my life like a goddamn tsunami. While still staying alive amidst the flotsam, i managed to slot in as much of FastForward board games society's activities as possible. Here's a quick summary of my jobscope (that i wrote for my successor):
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Events Director.
Seek out new event opportunities for the club, to create higher publicity and boost our club’s image. Communicate with people, brainstorm, be creative and daring.
Liaise with external organizations while sourcing or confirming details of event.
Create event proposals, make preparations for the event. Take charge of planning and organization if chairs are busy. Procure decorations, publicity materials, etc.
Lead by example and facilitate with passion. Your participants will feel it.
Key Takeaway point: You are THE Events person. Be passionate about what you do, be it a big event or a normal gaming session. Infect others with your love for board games. Be a creative force for change and push forth new ideas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
So it didn't turn out the way i idealized. I really wanted to make a difference and push the club forward. But the way things crept up on me, my ideals got squeezed out of sight, out of mind.
Thank god softball is over. This second season was just as exhausting and exciting. Just as bad for the nerves. I don't think i can take these single-scoreline-difference matches anymore. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? But silver was not bad. I remember losing the gold last year was much more painful. Overall, a very good experience.
Plus rugby. I have no idea how i got into it, but seeing i stayed through all the bruises and cuts like the rest of the team, i must be either mad or in love with the game. Probably both, and more of the former. I still suck at it after these few months of training though. Just hope to do my bit for the team.
Meanwhile, stuck like an angsty, stubborn child between all of this is FOC. I'm just trying to hold on till the hols where hopefully it'll overwhelm me without much pain. Not sure how I'll manage that with my UBS summer internship, but well.
What was i talking about? Not enough time to fulfill my events director role. I hardly mentioned school yet, but business and computing isn't exactly the cushiest degree(s) out there. Still it's a great load of fun with the greal pals in BCG.
Anyway, i'd like to apologize to Aloysius. I was inspired by him, by the steadfast, composed way he led the club. Thank you for showing me a simple, effective leadership style, and your endless patience and understanding. It was really a refreshing, delightful change of pace from last year's stint in JCRC, and i enjoyed every last bit of my role (when i did act the part).
Well, that's that. Things seem to be looking up, for a change. I hope to write more like now, when i feel cheerful and inspired...
And not when i'm in deep pain.
Aloysius asked me for a reflection of my role as Special Events Director over the past year. I sure didn't know what i was getting into when i joined. I wanted to get to know people outside hall and be more active in school activities, but it turned out quite badly when i realized hall was still taking up a huge chunk of my time.
Last semester flew past way too quickly. At first i was busy recruiting the FOC committee. Then the database project deluged my life like a goddamn tsunami. While still staying alive amidst the flotsam, i managed to slot in as much of FastForward board games society's activities as possible. Here's a quick summary of my jobscope (that i wrote for my successor):
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Events Director.
Seek out new event opportunities for the club, to create higher publicity and boost our club’s image. Communicate with people, brainstorm, be creative and daring.
Liaise with external organizations while sourcing or confirming details of event.
Create event proposals, make preparations for the event. Take charge of planning and organization if chairs are busy. Procure decorations, publicity materials, etc.
Lead by example and facilitate with passion. Your participants will feel it.
Key Takeaway point: You are THE Events person. Be passionate about what you do, be it a big event or a normal gaming session. Infect others with your love for board games. Be a creative force for change and push forth new ideas.
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So it didn't turn out the way i idealized. I really wanted to make a difference and push the club forward. But the way things crept up on me, my ideals got squeezed out of sight, out of mind.
Thank god softball is over. This second season was just as exhausting and exciting. Just as bad for the nerves. I don't think i can take these single-scoreline-difference matches anymore. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? But silver was not bad. I remember losing the gold last year was much more painful. Overall, a very good experience.
Plus rugby. I have no idea how i got into it, but seeing i stayed through all the bruises and cuts like the rest of the team, i must be either mad or in love with the game. Probably both, and more of the former. I still suck at it after these few months of training though. Just hope to do my bit for the team.
Meanwhile, stuck like an angsty, stubborn child between all of this is FOC. I'm just trying to hold on till the hols where hopefully it'll overwhelm me without much pain. Not sure how I'll manage that with my UBS summer internship, but well.
What was i talking about? Not enough time to fulfill my events director role. I hardly mentioned school yet, but business and computing isn't exactly the cushiest degree(s) out there. Still it's a great load of fun with the greal pals in BCG.
Anyway, i'd like to apologize to Aloysius. I was inspired by him, by the steadfast, composed way he led the club. Thank you for showing me a simple, effective leadership style, and your endless patience and understanding. It was really a refreshing, delightful change of pace from last year's stint in JCRC, and i enjoyed every last bit of my role (when i did act the part).
Well, that's that. Things seem to be looking up, for a change. I hope to write more like now, when i feel cheerful and inspired...
And not when i'm in deep pain.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Introverted
I feel loneliest when the music is loudest, the crowd is excited, and everyone is singing and dancing the night away.
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